AMD launched the Radeon HD 7950 graphics card, its second high-end product based on its new Graphics CoreNext architecture. Based on the same 28 nm "Tahiti" silicon as the HD 7970, the new SKU packs all its features, while being a tone-down in terms of specifications. To begin with, it features 1792 stream processors brought about by enabling 28 out of 32 of the GCN compute units on Tahiti. It features 112 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 3 GB of memory.

Its reference clock speeds include 800 MHz core, and 1250 MHz (5.00 GHz GDDR5 effective). Due to reduced power draw, the card requires two 6-pin power inputs, instead of 6+8-pin found on the HD 7970. AIB partners are free to provide custom-design and factory-overclocked models at speeds of up to 900 MHz core with 5.00 GHz memory. Models with AMD reference clock speeds should be typically priced at US $449, with factory-overclocked ones about $15-20 higher. The cards should be available in the markets right away.

I’m still trying to unearth what 28Nm TSMC price increase actually influenced these prices? I’m thinking it’s in the range of 13-17% adder (original estimate were even higher) to such prices just to cover chip increases. And while this price is high I think we need to hold judgment, till Nvidia part pricing is chiseled in stone, this might turn out to be the contemporary of what we’ll have to ante-up.

Sorry to say at the prices we are seeing will be what you'll see till end of March... There's not much inventory for either Nvidia or AMD (enthusiast) in the respective price segments and so neither need to adjust pricing. Especially against the newer levied 28Nm price.

I’m placing aspirations for 7950 with 1.5Gb as a nice price performance mix, say sometime late March at under $400, while could there be the contemplation of a 7930 “Tahiti base” with 1.5Gb later for $350?